Exemption from contact isolation

We have a duty to help protect our patients, visitors and colleagues. If staff are told to self-isolate through NHS Test and Trace or the NHS Covid-19 app, we would expect them to follow all the rules to self-isolate immediately and stay away from our sites for the required time, except in rare and exceptional circumstances.

There may be very rare and exceptional circumstances for frontline clinical staff who have been fully vaccinated to agree to come into work even if they have been told to isolate. If any colleagues think there will be a risk to delivery of critical services and patients could come to harm if they don't come to work, they need to contact their care group director of nursing who will oversee the risk assessment process and testing necessary to confirm they can return to work. They must not come in until this has been signed off.

This will not apply to any colleagues who are isolating because of a contact within their own household. They must not return to work until their isolation period is over under any circumstance.

Our duty as a healthcare setting also means that we also continue to keep our social distancing and PPE guidelines for all.

National guidance for allowing essential frontline staff to return to work if they have been asked to isolate due to potential contact with Covid-19 is available here.

Professor Paula Shobbrook, chief nursing officer and deputy chief executive

Are you an infection prevention and control (IPC) champion?

Are you currently an IPC champion for your ward or department? Or are you someone who is enthusiastic and passionate about IPC?

The IPC team will be delivering a series of presentations on a variety of subjects through monthly Teams meetings - come and help us develop this new role. This is an opportunity broaden your understanding, bring questions to the table and disseminate information to your teams.

The first session 'Public health and us - what to do about notifiable diseases?' is on 22 September 2.30-3.30pm.

Anyone with an interest in IPC can become a champion. The IPC champion role is aimed to inform and empower people to actively look after their own health, influence colleagues behaviours and to help promote and maintain a positive IPC culture.

The IPCT will be delivering a series of interesting presentations on a variety of IPC subjects through monthly MS teams meetings. If you are interested in becoming a champion, please speak with your ward/department lead. This is an opportunity to understand more, to bring questions and to disseminate this information to your teams, come and help us develop this new role.

For further information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Next meeting dates:

27 October 2.30-3.30pm: PCR testing and CT values

24 November 2.30-3.30pm: Introduction to the new fit testing programme

RBH: Wayfinding

With the main entrance at RBH now closed, please familiarise yourself with the updated map to find the nearest alternative entrance. Please note, the ED entrance is for the emergency department only, and access to the east wing should be via the ED minors and UTC corridor.

Our estates team is also reviewing signage across the site to aid wayfinding and additional signs to direct patients to the relocated Boots pharmacy will be installed next week. Thank you for your patience at this time.

Close your windows

When leaving your work area please ensure it is secured and the windows are closed and locked. Windows should only be open when a room is occupied.

Windows left open while rooms are unoccupied, both during the day and overnight, are a security risk for our staff, patients, data and equipment.

Help eliminate discrimination in the NHS

The five-year National NHS Race Equality Strategy will be published in October.

The strategy aims to establish a standard across operations to advance race equality, eliminate discrimination and foster good relations across our organisation.

All NHS staff, regardless of race or profession and including bank and agency workers can contribute to this work.

Give your feedback on this online form.

The UHD charity office at RBH has relocated

Following the closure of the charity office in the main atrium, our new charity hub can be found on the first floor of the east wing in the trust management offices.

Free staff bike maintenance

Bike Fixed will be returning next week to offer a free bike tune up for staff. Bike Fixed will be on site at RBH on Tuesday (10 August), Poole on Wednesday (11 August) and Christchurch on Thursday (12 August).

If you suspect your bike may need replacement parts, let Bike Fixed know as they may be able to supply these, however replacement parts aren't covered in the free tune up and will incur a charge.

Appointments are available between 9am – 3pm.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book.

Understanding our travel decisions

Take part in new study to help us understand staff attitudes towards cycling to work, to inform our travel strategy.

This survey, supported by our clinical audit department, aims to identify what can be done to support people who would like to cycle but currently don't. The survey is run by Kerstin, who is studying towards a MSc in Public Health at Bournemouth University.

Click here to take the survey.

Make the most of the Dorset Care Record (DCR)

The DCR enables health staff to give the best possible care to patients by providing their comprehensive health information, which can be instrumental in caring for patients who cannot let us know their health information themselves.

There are regular 30 minute training webinars available for the DCR e-learning, which will help you learn how to use this invaluable resource.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name, job title and preferred slot to participate, sessions run at 1pm:

• Wednesday 11 August
• Thursday 9 September
• Thursday 16 September
• Wednesday 22 September
• Wednesday 29 September

For further information about the DCR, what is included and how you can get access via the stand alone portal and via the Graphnet EPR interop please visit the DCR page on the trust intranet.

Be 'stronger together' at Bournemouth's Pride festival

We are joining our NHS colleagues from across Dorset at Bourne Free pride festival (20-21 August) to show our support to our LGBTQ+ staff, patients and communities.

We are joining the walking parade on the Saturday (21 August) midday at Meyrick Park, finishing at the Triangle around 1pm. Numbers in the parade are limited and we have 15 spaces if you would like to join us.

This year's theme is stronger together.

There is also a family night on Friday (20 August) at the Triangle with free tickets available on the website.

Want to join in but can't attend on the day – share a video message with us for the day, follow on social media and tag @uhd_nhs #UHDInclusion #StrongerTogether

For more details about the event, including information on how to support by volunteering, click here.

If you would like further information about our involvement, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RBH: Mindfulness sessions

Weekly mindfulness sessions will recommence in the chapel on 7 September, led by nurse Jools Kilbey. Sessions run from 12-12.30pm.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to attend.

Your weekly wellbeing offers

This week, book into Care First sessions, sign up to Nurse Lifeline peer-led listening service and register to join our childless listening event.

Please check the intranet A-Z under W for the wellbeing pages.